Related Information about Fakes and Counterfeits:

Fake Clothing

News, information and statistics about fake clothing and the sale of counterfeit clothes. Data about the fake clothing industry is collected from clothing manufactuers, brand owners and public criminal justice information.

Between 1992 and 2014, police and brand enforcement officials with the National Hockey League (NHL) seized over 10.6 million counterfeit goods items of its hockey teams. These types of fakes consists of counterfeit or replica jerseys, t-shirts and hats of NHL hockey teams that are unauthorized. According to the NHL, the retail value of the counterfeits seized over the 12 year period was worth over $405 Million.

During the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, security agents seized over 11,000 counterfeit NHL items that were valued at over $2.5 Million.

Security officers in Vietnam reported that its agencies investigated over 25,000 cases of counterfeit goods entering the country in the first 4 months of 2014.

According to officials, up to 80 percent of the counterfeit goods sold in Vietnam originates from China.

On average, enforcement agents with the Ministry of Industry and Trade investigate 90,000 cases of counterfeits being sold across Vietnam. Most of the cases involves counterfeit foods and beverages, fake tobacco products, and fake clothing.

: Bao Van, “Vietnam could become the next big counterfeiter,” Thanh Nien Daily, April 24, 2014.

At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, an estimated 35,000 counterfeit Hockey Canada jerseys were available for sale, according to the licensing manager of the team. During the 2010 Winter Games, security officials and brand trademark enforcement officials were able to seize about 17,000 counterfeit jerseys.

At the 201 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, an estimated 60 to 80 percent of the Team Canada Hockey jerseys are believed to have been counterfeited. The jerseys are offered at online websites, where the team jerseys are offered for around $20. Authentic jerseys that the hockey players wear on the ice costs about $450.

Security officers with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines seized counterfeit goods worth a total of $174 Million (7.76 Billion Philippine Pesos) in 2013. The value of the fake goods seized in 2013 was higher than the $118 Million (5.27 Billion Pesos) seized in 2012.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police saw an increase in the number of cases involving harmful counterfeit goods in Canada between 2005 and 2013.

In 2005, harmful counterfeits were involved with 11.5 percent of cases. By 2012, there were over 200 cases, or 30.4 percent of cases, that involved harmful fakes of toys, drugs, cosmetics, batteries and electronics.

In 2012, the counterfeit good that was most seized by the RCMP was replica clothing and replica shoes, which accounted for 45 percent of all counterfeits seized, followed by pirated movies and music with 20 percent.

In 2012, the major professional sports leagues in the United States lost over $13 Billion in revenue due to sales of counterfeit jerseys and apparel.

Merchandise of the National Football League (NFL) had the most losses to counterfeits, with nearly $3 Billion of the total, according to The Licensing Letter.

Authentic “elite” jerseys, which are similar to the jerseys worn by NFL players on game day, retail for $250. Sellers of the counterfeit jersey, with the Nike logo, NFL hologram, and other key indicators, sell for $75.

On average, criminal justice programs in South Africa record 26 busts of counterfeit goods from entering the country through ports of entry each day.

In 2013, a total of $251 Million (2.6 Billion South African Rand) was seized by security services in South Africa. Among the items seized were replica clothing worth $14.9 Million (155 Million Rand) and pirated DVDs and CDs worth $64 Million (671 Million Rand).

A survey conducted by accounting company PwC found that 18 percent of consumers in Britain admitted to purchasing counterfeit alcohol. 16 percent reported purchasing counterfeit drugs such as Viagra and weight-loss pills. And 13 percent admitted to buying counterfeit cigarettes.

British consumers between the ages of 18 to 34 bought the most counterfeits, with 60 percent saying that they bought pirated movies and music and 55 percent have bought replica clothing.

According to anti-counterfeiting lawyers in India, the market for counterfeit luxury goods in the country is increasing by 40 percent each year. The rise in replica handbags, shoes and clothing is greater than the increase for their legitimate items, as market analysts state that the luxury goods industry in India is rising by 20 percent.